SRINAGAR : Iltija Mufti, daughter of incarcerated Former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, on Thursday said she was detained by police at her residence in Srinagar after she tried to visit the grave of her grandfather and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed in south Kashmir.
Iltija, a Special Security Group protectee, said she had sought permission to visit her grandfather’s grave in the Bijbehara area of Anantnag district. “I have been detained at home and not allowed to move anywhere,” Iltija told News Agency PTI.
She has accused the government and the police of being “arrogant” and has alleging “they do not want peace in the Valley”.Barricades have been erected around Gupkar Road in Srinagar, which leads to the ‘Fairview’ residence that belongs to Ms Mufti and her mother. Reporters were not allowed to pass; the road was only opened for security personnel and residents.
However, Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Munir Khan denied that Iltija was detained and said “the Ananantnag district administration did not give clearance for her visit”. “We also have to keep in mind that she is an SSG protectee who has to take police clearance before visiting anywhere,” Khan added.
Iltija Mufti, said she was put under house arrest by the J&K police after she tried to visit southern Kashmir. Iltija said she was planning to visit the grave of her grandfather and former CM , Mufti Muhammad Sayeed, at Bijbehara in Anantnag district to offer prayers when the police barred her from leaving her residence at Gupkar road in Srinagar. Mufti Sayeed, who was the chief minister of PDP-BJP alliance for a year, died on January 7, 2016 after a prolonged illness.
“I sought permission from the authorities at around 11 am today to visit Bijbehara, but I was put under detention,” Iltija, an SSG protectee told media . “Then, I tried to move in a private car but I was not allowed out of our house. They even didn’t allow me to call a press conference.”
According to Iltija, a police officer at the level of deputy inspector told her that she could not leave. “Is it a crime to visit my grandfather’s grave under the new constitution and new system?” she said. “They are just being paranoid.”
The 34-year-old daughter of Mehbooba Mufti has been using her mother’s Twitter account to frequently express her views on the political development and detention of Kashmir politicians.
Mehbooba is among three former chief ministers and more than two dozen politicians who have been placed under detention since August 5. With Mehbooba and senior party leaders in detention, the PDP has planned a low-key programme on January 7 to observe the death anniversary of Sayeed. While it intends to observe the main function at Sayeed’s grave in Bijbehara, a separate event is also scheduled at the PDP headquarters in Srinagar.
The party has formally sought permission from the administration for holding the events. “We have sought permission from the divisional commissioner Kashmir, but so far there has been no response from the government side,” said party’s general secretary, youth wing, Nazir Ahmad Yatoo.
Iltija said they were not expecting the government to allow them to visit Sayeed’s graveyard on January 7. “It seems clear now,” she said. On December 5, the J&K authorities had disallowed some members of Abdullah family to visit the grave of National Conference founder and first prime minister of J&K, Sheikh Abdullah.
J&K is reeling under the political uncertainty as the top leadership of both National Conference and PDP, Chairman Peoples Conference Sajad Lone and bureaucrat-turned politician Shah Faesal have been under detention for months.
While parties have been seeking the release of their leaders and demanding that they should be allowed to visit districts and resume political activities, there has been no word from the government on freeing political detainees yet.
(Bureau Report with Agency Inputs ).
[1]
